The hamlet lies along New York Route 146 and the Black Creek, a tributary of the Normans Kill.

Guilderland Center includes the factories established at French's Mills, the first of these was built in 1795 by Peter Broeck.

[1] French's Hollow and the mills were mostly destroyed when the Black Creek was dammed for the creation of the Watervliet Reservoir in 1916.

[2] Guilderland Center was originally called by the locals Bang-all, in reference to ill effects and reputation that rum, horse racing, and the rough manners of the place brought.

Guilderland Center lies to the south of the Watervliet Reservoir, along the Black Creek.